Word or Phrase Use:ect. - Noah spells the abbreviation for the Latin phrase of et cetera as ect whereas modern dictionaries say it should be spelled as etc. because it means "and all the rest" or "and so on and so forth". However, I've noticed that many seniors members of our society, as well as those on the other side of the pond, both in Great Britain and in Europe, spell it as ect. like Noah does.

Legend: * Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this person/place/thing, or use the search box in the header at the top of this page** see History Notes below​

Chatham England, Jan. 14/17

Mrs. N.C. Draper, Keswick, Ont.-

Dear Wife; - Well Ethel I hope you are all wellas this leaves me at present savefor a cold which is getting better. We are still at drill & am gettinga little better every day, (there isroom for improvement yet) Wewill be in a seaman's classsoon I expect, where we will learnto tie knots & ect. dont knowhardly what all, Well I was down to the Presbyterian church this morningit is about a mile & a half fromthe barracks, & when I got backthe dinner was all gone, so I​

think I will belong to the English churchafter this, it is only 5 minutes walk fromthe hut, hope you have received youranchor before this I think I will be ableto get out next Saturaday after noon ifI can I will get some thing for the kiddies. Have not got any mail since I leftHalifax & may not get any for two weeksyet but am looking every day for aletterI have written to Mother, Percy, Louie, Eva, Ethel, & Mr. Butts, havent I done well. I was down town Friday night from4 30 P.M. untill 7 30 have not been to a showsince I landed but think I will tryto go next week, I am trying to do as Iwould have one in my position do, goody boy, Eh. Well we had snow here one night lastweek about 1 inch but it was all goneby night, we have rain nearly everyother day. Oh say I got my pay a weekago Friday. 54 Shilling that was from thetime we left Halifax & last Friday Igot 1 weeks pay 7 shilling or $1.68 centsof our money, will soon be rich Ha Ha.suppose you have had your paybefore this $38 you get isnt it. never mindI have about 12 pound yet that I broughtwith me have $18. Canadian money yetwill get it changed when I get to Londonbut do not know when that will be.​

I hope you have the money for thehail insurance before this, dontforget to tell me all about it. &wheather that man paid his notewhich I left in the Bank forcollection, also that from Will. Well Ethel I miss my pitcher ofmilk have not had a drink sinceI left Halifax but tonight is mynight out & I am going to try &get some, HaHa. I am going out after tea & think I will go toChurch after supper. I was goingto write to Charlie this after noonbut this is the last of my paperso will have to write later, Well I guess this will be allfor this time hoping to hearfrom you soon I remain your everloving husband. N.C. Draper​​

History Notes​

This is the same map as the last post showing Rochester Castle on the River Medway, as well as HMS Pembroke where Noah is quartered.

I've added a label near HMS Pembroke to show the location of St George's Church of England which Noah refers to as the English Church.

I've added another label to show the location of the Presbyterian Church, 1 1/2 miles southwest of Noah's location. You can see why there wasn't any food left by the time Noah hoofed it back.

An Early 20th Century Street Scene on a Double-Decked Street Car. Courtesy of bbc.co.uk

Noah mentions that sitting in a double decked street car feels like "​riding on a boat swaying sideways." A bbc.co.uk post, ​How did people travel? shows one of the best views I've seen on people riding in a double decked street car and so you can imagine what Noah meant. ​

Author of Letter: Noah C Draper, 29 yrs old, b 1887Dated: Undated (Contents show letter should be dated Jan 7, 1917)Mailed from: Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham, EnglandAttached to: HMS Pembroke Profession: Farmer, Temporary SailorRank: Ordinary SeamanAddressed to: Mrs. N. C. Draper, Keswick, Ont.Relationship: WifeWriting instrument: Fountain Pen with Black InkWriting Paper: 10" x 6.5" medium weight, semi-rough, folded into booklet form. Noah hasn't numbered the pages, but he's using the same technique he used for some of his previously posted courtship letters to Ethel, where his first page is the front "cover", then he's opened it and written on the right side, then moved over to the left side - turned the page sideways - and written there, and finally, he's closed it and written on the back. For clarity, I'm posting the pages in the order they were meant to be read.

​​Legend: * Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this person/place/thing, or use the search box in the header at the top of this page** see History Notes below​​

Sidebar:P.S. this is my 4th since I landed have you got them all. N.C.D.

16 hut East Camp, Royal Navel Barracks,​Chatham, England.

Mrs. N. C. Draper, Keswick, Ont.Dear Ethel; - Well I am still alive and ableto eat my allowance so am notrun down much yet, hope youare all well, say I posted youan anchor yesteraday you mayget it when you get this it isregistered so you will have tosigne for it. hope you like itdid not know what else to getyou, will send the kiddiessomething next week if I getout. I can go out every othernight from 4 30 pm untill 8 nextmorning but have only been outSat. after noon as the town is​

in darkness & there is not much tosee worth seeing after dark. We were lined up and marched down to the English church this morning. could have went tothe Presbyterian but did not,know it in time but will gothere next Sunday if I can. Was out in Chatham from2 P.M. untill about 7 30/xx last nightwas in 3 stores & a tea room,We have heard described sooften, of course not one of the swellaffairs. Well we will be married 6 yearson the 10 of Jan. we are getting old​eh. the first anniversary to bespent apart & I hope we may betogeather for the next but we can​never tell that far ahead.​

Chatham is quite a town narrow streets& double decked street cars. they are like​riding on a boat swaying sideways. There is a Navel Y M.C.A. here but I havenot been in it yet but want to hunt it​up next week. they have lectures hereevery night or so & I guess they arepretty good. altho. they must sounddissagreeable to some men who do notdo as they should, morally I mean. Thereis a number of new recrutes comes inhere every day altho. I think we arethe last Canadians to arrive here &we have a great deal to learn aboutevery thing. English, even their money​

bothers us at first but we willsoon get used to that I guess. There is a Canadian mail in herenow but it has not been sorted yetso am expecting a letter or twosometime soon. Well I have only been on as cook.hereonce so far but will have anotherturn soon I expect. I dont mindmuch for if we are doing thatwe are not doing any thingelse. have just finished aletter to Eva was afraid if I wroteto you first she would not get a letter, ha ha. I like writingjust as well as ever. Well I guess I will have toclose kiss the babies for meLove to all, from your loving Hubby​ N. C. Draper

History Notes​

​ There are 3 History notes for this letter...

History Note 1 - Y.M.C.A

Begun in 1844 England, the Y.M.C.A. was a social club which served as a home away from home for male travelers as well as soldiers, sailors, and airmen. The facilities were similar as present day with some including a gymnasium and swimming pool, as well as game room, reading room, and a place to partake in wholesome food and refreshments.​

History Note 2 - English Church

I've found "English Church" on Upper Canada and Canada West census records and understand it to mean the Church of England. In Noah's case, he means St George's Church aka the Naval Barracks Church, which was part of HMS Pembroke. The church was built in 1906 and is shown in the next two photos. ​

History Note 3 - Double Decked Street Cars

An early 20th century street scene. Image copyright of the Bishopsgate Institute. Courtesy of bbc.co.uk

​To continue from the top of this post, the bbc.co.uk post, ​How did people travel? goes on to say that in 1900 most vehicles on the Britain's streets were horse-drawn, but by 1914 motor buses and electric trams were more popular for public transportation.

Next to the Royal Naval Barracks was the Pembroke Gate to the Chatham Dockyards where civilian workers and longshoremen worked and maintained the ships. I found this photo at Chatham & District Traction Company which shows double decked trams waiting for the workers at the Pembroke Gate.​

A line of cars waiting for Dockyard workers at Pembroke Gate. Courtesy of Chatham & District Traction Company.

The Friends of Chatham Traction are in the process of restoring, exhibiting and operating the sole surviving Chatham Traction bus, GKE 68, and although it ran 20 years after Noah's naval tour of duty, I'm posting this information as a thank you for allowing their photos to be used and shared for education and promotion.

Remember this Real Photo Post Card (RPPC) from last week? Ethel must have written it on June 30, 1912 because of what she wrote on the back...

Ethel wrote to her 11 yr old sister, Christie, on the back of the above RPPC except I don't believe she actually mailed it due to the lack of a stamp and the fact that it was still in Ethel's possession. I've found other notes and letters in her Treasure Box written in draft form which implies that she wrote a practice one first, and then mailed a second one. Or, she could have kept it as a souvenir because of the date and information.

I've posted the same backing in two directions so you can read it for yourself, but here's what Ethel wrote to Christie:

Christie why don't youwrite anymore. Willyou see what AnnieOwens & Olive Lee's addressesare. I think they are on oneof those post cards hangingon the wall, Noah and I are going to

Miss Christie Nelson

Belhaven,

Ontario

Regina to-morrow. also Eva& Joe. Louie & Fred & Mrs Draper,going to see the ruins. I guessit is something fierce. the mainpart of the town is all wiped outCarried a loaded street car 40 rods.Bye-Bye. Love from sister Ethel.

The Cyclone

On June 30, 1912 Canada was making final preparations the next day's Dominion Day celebrations and Regina was no exception. At 5 pm after a day of extreme heat, a combination of a cyclone and tornado due to two storm clouds colliding, hit the ground 18 km (12 mls) south of the city and cut a swath 400 yds (2-3 blocks) wide heading north through grain elevators, business and warehouse districts, and manufacturing plants, with the worst of the damage downtown and in the affluent residential area between Wascana and Victoria Parks.

The Morning Leader - Jul 1, 1912, Page 2

It was over in 20 mins leaving 28 people dead or dying, hundreds seriously injured, 2500 homeless, and over 400 of the finest buildings in the city - some the finest in the province - destroyed or missing. Total cost in 1912 - over 5 million dollars.

For sure Noah and Ethel and the family went to Regina to see the aftermath of the cyclone because Noah took this RPPC of the YWCA:

The thought occurs to me as I look at these photos is that Noah, Ethel, Louie, Fred, Joe, Eva, and Sarah Draper could be some of the people walking around looking at the ruins, but from the distance, I can't tell.

Some of the photograph captions mention that being taken atop a building and I can only assume that's what the man on the roof of the YWCA above is doing.

Here's another view - a lighter one - of the YWCA and surrounding buildings at the corner of Victoria and Lorne.

1912 Regina Cyclone - Corner of Victoria Ave and Lorne St., Ruins of the Metropolitan Methodist Church on the left, and then the YWCA , Courtesy of Glenbow Archives.

The Metropolitan Methodist Church was constructed in 1910 at a cost of $100,000 only 1 1/2 yrs before the 1912 cyclone. Here's what it look like before June 30th.

Here's a different view of Lorne St as we look north toward the railway tracks and beyond to the warehouse district. Note the Knox Presbyterian Church down the street on the right.

1911 - Corner of Lorne Street and Victoria Avenue - Victoria Park on the right, Metropolitan Methodist Church on the left, and Knox Presbyterian Church down the street. Courtesy of City of Regina Archives Photograph Collection.

Before the 1912 Regina Cyclone: Knox Presbyterian Church at the corner of Lorne and 12th, and the YMCA at the Cornwall and 12th. Taken from Victoria Park. Courtesy of the Prairie History Room at the Regina Public Library.

Here's the Knox Presbyterian Church after the cyclone left it in ruins.

Regina 's residents were left to pick up the pieces of their broken city. The dead were buried, the injured were treated, and the rubble was hauled away. An apocryphal story says that Boris Karloff, best known as Frankenstein's Monster of movie fame, was acting in a play at one of Regina 's theatres that day. Karloff supposedly stayed in Regina and helped with the cleanup operation. It took only a year for most of the city's buildings and houses to be rebuilt. Carpenters and other tradesmen came from as far away as Winnipeg to help with the massive rebuilding efforts. The debt stayed behind considerably longer – it took almost 40 years to pay off the loans that the city and its residents took out to aid in the rebuilding efforts.

Cliches mentioned in this letter:- "Hot time in the old town"- "they say no news is good news"- "better late than never"

Legend: * Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this person/place/thing. If you don't see a label, use the search box at the top of page.** see Genealogy Notes below

Belhaven. P.O.Nov 26 inst. 1911.

Dear Noah, - Well here I am again. thesame old story 'eh' but thank goodnessI'll only be found or have the sameprivelege of writing to you two orthree more times. Something betterto take its place, 'eh' better than a dozen letters. Four weeks from to-dayis Christmas Sunday. I look forwardto see you by that time anyway. andI don't in the least expect to bedissapointed. But if I am. Oh say!I don't know what will happen: have you any ideas? Hot-time in the old town, eh.

2.

Well Noah. I wrote the first page of thisletter this forenoon, and now am going totry and finish it up. Pa and I weredown to Uncle Will Glovers this afternoonand Sadie and myself were up tochurch to-night. Herbie Hainer preached. You din'dat say how Veda was. but they say no news is good news. hopeso in this case anyway. Christie says to tell you she is sittinghere beside me seeing that I writeproperly. "ha ha" Well Noah as to your last letter, Ihardly know how to answer it. But if you come Christmas and stayuntil sometime in February (about thesix weeks..) I supose we had better bemade one about the middle of January.

For you intend to come home here againafter we are married before goingWest don't you, Oh Noah if you wereonly here we would know exactlyeach others ideas. and so could arrangethings much nicer. I don't feel likesetting the day this time anyway. perhapswhen you come everything will bemade right. I feel though now asthough anytime will suit me. Masays we can't go away until thevery last minute. not until you thinkyou really have to go back. All I seemto be looking forward to now is seeing you. and I hope I soon can close my eyes to that and seethe rest. Guess you will wonder why you

did'nt get a letter sooner lastweek. But really it just seemedas no one was going to the officeafter I did get it wrote. But Ihope it is better late than never. Well there does'nt seem to bemuch that I can write to-day, forI can't seem to settle my mind onany one thing. But I know or hopethere's a great Day coming by andby, "eh". Mr Dafoe was here Saturdayhe has been out west all summerhe was saying if he knew then thatI was going he would have stayed. andso on it goes. ha ha. I guess youknow about what it tis. "eh". I mustclose for this time. so Bye-Bye Love fromyour Sweetheart, Ethel x x x x

Genealogy Notes

In this week's letter, Ethel mentions Veda once again. In the post entitled 1911 Courtship: Oct 30 Dear Noah, I showed a photo of Veda as an older adult - the only image I have of her, but this time - with only a couple courtship letters left, I wanted to know exactly where Veda was attending school back in 1911. In a recent letter, Ethel had asked Noah if Veda was taking music in Brandon, but we don't know Noah's answer because we're missing his letters - the ones that cover these last few week before he returns to Belhaven to claim his bride.

However, once again I've been going through Ethel's Treasure Box in preparation for the next stage in Noah and Ethel's life. While sorting Noah's WW1 letters from those received from friends and family I found a letter from Veda with Brandon College letterhead and her mention of Clark Hall.

With the confirmation of where Veda was attending post-secondary school, I did some digging. For those who missed the first time I posted this map, here it is again with Brandon located in the southwestern corner of the Canadian province of Manitoba.

Map showing places mentioned in the 1911 Courtship letters.

The image on the right is a sketch of what Brandon College looked like when it began as Prairie College in 1880. Located in Rapid City, Manitoba it was an academic school for the general public as well as a training ground for Baptist ministers. In 1890 the school had moved to the growing city of Brandon, 20 miles south of Rapid City.

1900 saw the laying of the cornerstone of the renamed Brandon College, a new 3 1/2 story brick and Manitoba limestone building. (see postcard above) It offered a liberal arts program with theology courses and included high school and commercial departments.

In 1906, a school of music was added, and in 1910 Brandon College officially affiliated with McMaster University in Ontario. At first I thought Clark Hall was the actual music department of Brandon College, but the Historical Sketch page for Brandon University records that Clark Hall was first used as the women's residence of the college.

By the time Veda started her instruction in 1911, Brandon College music graduates in voice and piano were gaining national reputation, but I haven't found a source yet for any of those graduates. Hopefully I'll discover more by the time I post her actual letter which will be in a couple week's time. Meanwhile, here's a list of courses Veda could have been taking during 1911...

Henderson's Brandon City Directory for 1911, page 22 - Brandon College. Source: Peel's Prairie Provinces from the University of Alberta

Author of Letter: Ethel Isabell Nelson, age 21 (b 1890)Dated: Nov. 23rd 1911.Addressed to: My Dear NoahMailed from: Belhaven, P.O. Relationship: CourtingProfession: Farmer's Daughter Writing instrument: Fine point pen, blue-black ink Written on: Beige lined foolscap, newsprint quality, 9.5 inches x 6.5 inches, folded in half in booklet form and pages labelled as 1, 3,2,4, however, I've posted them here in the order they are to be read. It seems that Ethel has run out of quality stationery - a common gift of the Edwardian period, but with Christmas a month away, she may get a new supply.

Legend: * Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this person/place/thing. If you don't see a label, use the search box at the top of page.** see Genealogy Notes below

Belhaven, P.O.Nov. 23.rd 1911.

My Dear Noah, -- Rec'd your letter all O.K. on Monday. I guess you will thinkI am a little Slow in writing this timebut I was up to Mr Herb Winches overSunday and Monday so did'nt have anychance to write sooner. So I guess youcan forgive 'eh'. My gracious I'm afraidyou'll freeze to death up there if it getsany colder. good thing you're comingdown here there'll be more chance for youliving another year or so. "ha ha"

2.

No! Stanley and Mae are notmarried. I don't know when they are toto be married, but I hear sometime before spring.Again I hear Raymond Yorke has decidednot to marry but go West in the Spring withhis father. Well I amy very glad indeed tohear you intend coming as soon as you arefor certainly it can't be to soon for me. forI am a lonesome girl sometimes, andoften I think if I get as homesick to see theones at home as I do to see you now. Imight pity you, for it gives one the blues. My we had a splendid Service inBelhaven Sunday evening. Professor Dalesspoke he is a Baptist, and he certainly canspeak. What church do you attend? Anddo you believe their's a Father above?Do you believe as I do? You may think these

3.

funny questions. Noah: I will tell yousometime why I ask them. When ever I meet Herb Winch ifany one else is around he ask's themif they heard Noah Draper was tobe married, then he'll ask me if I hadheard about it, The great clown he is; that's all I have to say for him. Well four weeks from now ISuppose you will be here and you maydepend I want be here writing letters "eh"Something better. I'll have youright before me giving you a good lecture"eh" I am sure I'll enjoy it better thanany show or writing letters. Squire has just come in fromBelhaven. and the rest have all goneto bed.

4.

We are having awfully rough andcold weather this last week or so. buthav'nt much snow yet. Have saw oneor two sleighs out. Guess we willhave to go sleigh-riding in the buggyfor we hav'nt any cutter or sleighs yet. "ha ha"They helped to make a fire one day. "eh"How is Veda? hope she has improvedand was she at Brandon? Sadie wasawfully anxious to hear from her. When I told our folks you would behere in three or four weeks, Christiewas right on hand and said yourmother could come, but you could'ntWhat do you think about that? ha haYou know what a time you had lastwinter. You'll remember Christy"eh" the same old tease. Space says x x xyou'd better close for this time , so bye bye love, Sweetheart

Genealogy Notes

Genealogy Note #1- Stanley Mahoney and Mae Anderson

While posting these letters, I tried not to post events before they happened, but in the case of Stanley and Mae, a search showed their wedding date of Jun 17, 1912, and since Noah and Ethel marry in Jan 1912, I decided to post the information in case we didn't get back to them. You can read more about Stanley and Mae on the post 1911 Courtship: Mar 26.

Genealogy Note #2 - Winter Travel Vehicles

In this letter Ethel talks about a sleigh and cutter and how they haven't a new one yet. If you recall, the Nelson's lost lots of equipment when their barn burnt down in the early summer.

The photograph at the top of this post is of Nelson's Uncle John Zenuk up in Chelan, Saskatchewan. John still works the farm where his father homesteaded back in the 1920's although the next generation is taking over in John's retirement. His mother - Nelson's grandmother - was the first white woman in the Porcupine Plain area, a fact detailed in the local history book.

In the last couple of years, I've published a series of Sleigh posts on my Inkwell Inspirations group blog which show the different types of winter conveyances used throughout the years. It's not a comprehensive list, but one that shows what was available: